

Little Rockets Childcare
'aiming higher, together'
Covid Policy
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Statement of Intent
Little Rockets Childcare intends to use this policy to provide precautionary measures to minimise transmission risks of disease in the setting during an epidemic or pandemic. It also states ideas for continuity of business if allowed.
Legislation and leading authorities which have guided and influenced this policy are:
Coronavirus Act 2020, Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Government Briefings, Public Health England (PHE) and World Health Organisation (WHO). Advice from but not limited to, The Secretary of State, The Chief Medical Officer, Local Authority (LA) and Department for Education (DfE). The policy also has regard to Ofsted and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidance where appropriate.
Aim of Policy
This Policy defines and assists the operating arrangements in place within the nursery that assures compliance to the Government and leading bodies requirements with relation to the outbreak of a pandemic such as Covid19. This information builds upon our current procedures for areas such as Safeguarding, Child Protection and Equality and Diversity, however new practices may emerge as the situation continues. The policy and considerations may evolve and be built upon as the situation deepens and new precautionary measures have been introduced and practices have been reflected upon.
Method
As early years providers we ensure to offer a continuum of very high standards of practice of childcare and education. The fundamental principles to be outlined in this policy are set out to ensure physical distancing is enabled and implement good hygiene practices as well as avoiding coming into contact with infected children and adults or anyone displaying symptoms. It states the protective measures put in place for children, parents and staff as best as possible to ensure the risk of transmission is reduced. We will continue to follow our other policies as long as they do not conflict with this policy and be guided by the EYFS as best as we can. The main areas we will be considering are:
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Minimising contact with individuals who are unwell
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Maintaining personal and respiratory hygiene (handwashing, catch it, kill it, bin it)
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Ensuring cleanliness of the environment (especially frequently touched surfaces)
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Minimising general contact and mixing (limiting non-essential visiting to the setting)
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The use of Protective and Personal Equipment (PPE)
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Testing
Focus/ Areas of Consideration / Recommendations
Children
Attendance
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Only children who are symptom free or have completed the required isolation period should attend the setting.
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Extremely vulnerable children should continue to follow current government advice.
Physical Distancing/grouping
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Children may be organised into small groups or given designated rooms within the setting, this will also involve the outdoor area. Wherever possible these small groups or ‘bubbles’ should not mix during the day as best as possible. This is to minimise contact with others and mixing. Staff may exercise their own judgement during the day for the high standards of safety for all children.
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Children in small groups should have the same staff team caring for them wherever possible to limit the amount of people coming into contact with each other.
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Smaller amounts of children in the whole setting may be advised or preferable. As we usually run to capacity most days this could be achieved by, but not limited to:
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A temporary cap on the amount of children in the setting at anyone time.
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Temporarily limiting funded hours to only 15 hours per child, ensuring all children have access to some nursery time.
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Changing children’s hours to all mornings or all afternoons or 2 and a half days.
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Only allowing the older children or those moving to Primary school to attend.
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Grouping children to certain days, such as in groups of children moving to next school, this would help with transitions.
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Prioritising children such as those who are vulnerable, those with special educational needs, those from households where both parents work (or work full time)
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The take up on places may be small so there may be no need to change children’s hours.
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Care routines including provision of meals, nappy changing and toileting should be within the space allocated to each ‘bubble’ wherever possible.
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The use of communal internal spaces should be restricted as much as possible and outdoor spaces should be utilised as much as possible and used by ‘bubbles’ in different areas during the day.
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A phased return may be best to ease their transition back into nursery if it has been closed for quite a while or only open for critical workers.
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Sunscreen should be applied by the parents / carers before the child arrives at the nursery. T shirts covering shoulders and leggings would be preferable to minimise how much top up of sunscreen the nurseryl staff will do.
Wellbeing and education
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Children should be supported in age appropriate ways to understand the steps they can take to keep themselves safe including regular hand washing, coughing into an elbow, using a tissue and adopting a catch it, kill it, bin it regime.
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Children should be supported to understand the changes and challenges they may be encountering as a result of Covid-19 and staff need to ensure they are aware of children’s attachments and their need for emotional support at this time.
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EYFS framework will continue to be delivered through play and adult led activities.
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Workforce
Attendance
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Staff should only attend nursery if they are symptom free, have completed the required isolation period or achieved a negative test result. All staff and their household are eligible for testing if they display symptoms.
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Staff will follow all directions given by the Government.
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Staff will complete an online Covid-19 prevention course before returning to work to address any risks from the virus, ensure sensible measures are in place to control risks.
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Wherever possible staff should remain with the small group of children, the ‘bubble’ of children who they are allocated to and not come into contact with other groups.
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Emergency revisions to the EYFS may have been implemented which provides some flexibility on ratios and qualifications to make this feasible
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After dealing with an ill child who displayed symptoms the staff member should continue to wear PPE and clean the affected area with disinfectant.
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All PPE should be removed and disposed of following current government guidelines, the staff member should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds.
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The staff member who supported the unwell child does not need to go home unless they are developing symptoms themselves
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Staff to wear fresh, clean clothes for each session.
Training
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Where possible, meetings and training sessions should be conducted through virtual conferencing.
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All staff members must receive appropriate instruction and training in infection control and the standard operating procedure and risk assessments within which they will be operating.
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Online training may be available to allow their training levels to be maintained if appropriate.
Parents
Physical distancing
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Only parents who are symptom free and or have completed the required isolation periods will be able to drop off or collect their child.
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Parents are asked to continue keeping up to date with current Government advice and rules for preventing the spread of infection.
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We will continue to collect children at the door from parents and return them at the end of their stay.
Communications
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Parents should receive clear communication regarding the role they play in the safe operating procedure and all measures being taken to ensure the safety of their children and themselves.
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Parents should inform the nursery if their child tests positive for Covid or displays symptoms of it.
Visitors
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Attendance to the setting should be restricted to only children and staff as far as practically possible. Any essential visiors should wear PPE if required and be symptom free.
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Where essential visits are required these should be made outside of the usual nursery operational hours where possible.
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As far as possible parents and carers should not enter the premises.
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Hygiene and Health & Safety
Hand Washing
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All children and staff must wash their hands upon arrival at the nursery for at least 20 seconds.
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Children and staff members should be encouraged to wash their hands frequently, this includes before and after eating food, after visiting the toilet or playing outdoors, after sneezing, blowing their nose or coughing into their hand and dealing with unwell people.
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Bodily fluid spills should follow the correct procedures as normal.
Cleaning
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An enhanced cleaning schedule must be implemented that includes furniture, surfaces and children’s toys and equipment and all staff are responsible in their area of work.
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Communal area, touch points and hand washing facilities must be cleaned and sanitised regularly and cleaned thoroughly every night.
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A deep clean will be needed after a child has become ill in the area they were waiting.
Waste disposal
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All waste must be disposed of in a hygienic and safe manner following government guidelines.
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Tissues must be immediately disposed of and placed in a bin with a bag, and lid.
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Bodily fluids must be double bagged and disposed of in a bin with a bag, and lid.
Laundry
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All items within the setting requiring laundering must be washed in line with NHS laundry guidelines.
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Items such as towels, flannels and bedding must not be shared by children.
Risk assessment
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The setting and all activity should be risk assessed if local infection rates rise or fall.
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Reactions to differing infection rates may include, but not be limited to, the suspension of learning experiences involving materials which are not easily washable such as malleable materials (dough, clay) and the suspension of the sharing of food and utensils.
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Cut down on the available resources out in the nursery.
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Remove anything which cannot be easily wiped down or washed at the end of the day.
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Play food, play cutlery and crockery etc. should be removed or anything else which may be ‘mouthed’ by many children.
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Baking, food play and finger painting should be avoided.
PPE
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Government guidance is that PPE is not required for general use in early years settings to protect against COVID- 19 transmission.
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PPE should continue to be worn and disposed of as normal for nappy changing, one to one care and the administration of first aid.
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If a child shows symptoms, staff should wear a face mask, disposable gloves and apron if a 2-meter distance cannot be maintained at all times. PPE should be disposed of following government guidelines
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Resources
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Children should not be permitted to bring items from home into the setting unless absolutely essential for their wellbeing. Anything that is brought in from home should remain in the child’s bag on their peg.
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All resources required for play and learning experiences of children should be regularly washed and/or sterilized. Any resources which are difficult to clean should be removed.
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Equipment used by staff such as stationary, tablets etc. should be allocated to individual staff members where possible and cleaned regularly.
Supplies Procurement & monitoring
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The nursery should ensure an adequate supply of essential supplies and contingency plans such as additional suppliers are in place to minimise the impact of any shortages of supplies.
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The nursery will not be able to operate without essential supplies required for ensuring infection control.
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A monitoring system for the usage of PPE is essential to ensure that a supply of stock is available to all who require it as and when required to meet the operational needs of the setting. When stocks are low, other options may be considered, such as the use of washable tabards and facemasks. These items will be washed at a high temperature in accordance with relevant guidelines and separate to any other nursery washing.
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In case the supply of food is interrupted, procedures must be implemented to ensure the appropriate food alternatives are sourced and normal food safety and hygiene processes are followed.
Responding to a suspected case
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In the event of a child developing suspected coronavirus symptoms whilst attending the setting, they should be collected as soon as possible and isolate at home in line with the current guidance.
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Whilst waiting for the child to be collected they should be isolated from others in a previously identified room or area. If possible, a window should be opened for ventilation.
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The staff member responsible for the child during this time should be a staff member from their ‘bubble’. The provider will provide suitable PPE for this staff member such as the addition of face mask, visor, disposable gloves and apron.
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The area should be thoroughly cleaned immediately if the area cannot be left unvisited, and if the area can be left unvisited then cleaned after 72 hours.
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The person responsible for cleaning ideally should be the person dealing with the unwell child and should continue to wear their PPE. This should then be disposed of according to current government guidelines.
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In the event of a staff member developing suspected coronavirus symptoms whilst working at the nursery, they should return home immediately and isolate at home in line with the NHS guidance. They should also follow current testing advice for themselves and their household.
Monitoring of this policy
This policy will be reviewed termly by the setting manager/director, new government legislation and policies will be incorporated appropriately as and when required or informed.